Schools Influenza Vaccination Programs
Protect your staff, students and community this flu season. Every year the flu causes widespread illness and can have severe complications for vulnerable people in the community. Flu infections cause high rates of absenteeism for students and school staff.
Influenza – commonly called ‘the flu’
Every season, influenza does more damage than most people realise. It can affect your child or parent, a friend or family member, a colleague or a loved one.
Influenza is a very contagious infection of the airways. It affects people of all ages. Although it can be a mild disease, it can also cause very serious illness in otherwise healthy people. It can require hospitalisation and can cause death.
But there is something we can do about it.
Flu Vaccinations have been widely available since the 1940s and are a safe and effective way to protect you from serious disease caused by influenza. Getting vaccinated helps reduce your risk of getting influenza but can also reduce the severity of the virus. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone from mid-April onwards to be protected for the peak influenza season, which is typically from June to September.
About the Influenza Vaccine
Each year the WHO monitors closely what is happening around the world and makes the decision on which strains to include in the current vaccination.
What’s new in 2026
In 2026 Australia, along with the Southern Hemisphere will complete its transition from Quadrivalent (4 strain vaccine) to a Trivalent (3 strain vaccine) flu vaccines.
Why the change?
The B/Yamagata influenza B strain has not been detected since the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends removing it from seasonal influenza vaccines.
This change mirrors the Northern Hemisphere, which began its transition during the 2024-2025 season.
Despite the change, annual vaccination remains the most important strategy to prevent influenza and its complications.
The 2026 vaccine will contain the following strains:
- A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09like strain
- A/Singapore/GP20238/2024 (H3N2)like strain
- B/Austria/1359417/2021- like strain
On-site vaccination programs for Victorian schools and organisations
Health Watch Australia has been providing on-site vaccination programs in Victoria for over 18 years. We are a preferred vaccination provider for the Victorian State Government and have trusted relationships with government departments, universities and schools.
We operate high-volume on-site clinics with seamless efficiency and minimal disruption to staff. Our qualified immunisation staff ensure compliance with all health and safety guidelines – our practices and procedures are endorsed and approved by the Australian Government Department of Health as well as the Victorian Department of Health. Health Watch Australia is also an approved Vaccine Administration Partners Program (VAPP) provider.
Enquire now
Contact Health Watch Australia on behalf of your school to receive a quote and more information about a vaccination program.
